Solid bullet lubricant



July 9, 1963 L. B. HALL 3,097,169

SOLID BULLET LUBRICANT Filed May 27, 1960 4 4 w i fir-i Z A W l H r 1 B 2% y 2 A F ,5 M F 2. 5 3

I G l I I ll LESLIE B. .HQLL

INVENTOR.

ATTO RNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,097,169 Patented July 9, 1963 3,097,169 SOLID BULLET LUBRICANT Leslie B. Hall, 817 Grand Ave., Long Beach 4, Calif. Filed May 27, 1960, Ser. No. 32,483 1 Claim (Cl. 25223) The present invention relates generally to the field of ubricants, and more particularly to a lubricant for solid ruilfilS.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide L lubricant of such consistency that it will remain in the olid state in the grooves or cannelures of a bullet missile I normally encountered atmospheric temperatures, but is .150 capable, when molten, of impregnating the felt filler vads of shotgun shells.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubriant which, when used on bullets, will cause the gun \arrels through which they are fired to acquire a highly olished mirror-like gloss on the interior surface thereof, which gloss not only offers a minimum of frictional reistance to bullet missiles thereafter fired through the barels, but inhibits the formation of rust in the barrels, as Iell as the corrosion thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a JbflCHi'll that not only provides the operational advanages above mentioned, but one that in addition actually leans the gun barrels, thus eliminating the necessity of sing corrosive lead and nitro solvents thereon.

These and other objects and advantages of the invenon will become apparent from the following description f the invention, and the drawing illustrating the same 1 which:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevational view of a bullet iissile as removed from the mold;

FIGURE 2 shows the bullet missile illustrated in FIG- lRE 1 after it has been trimmed to correct caliber with "re cannelure therein filled with the lubricant of the resent invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the bullet 'liSSilC shown in FIGURE 2, mounted at the correct depth 1 a shell casing, a portion of which is cut away;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a felt filler wad imregnated with the lubricant; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a shotgun shell artially cut away to show the positioning therein of the 'ad illustrated in FIGURE 4.

In its preferred form the invention consists of grease, eeswax, paraffin, powdered mica, colloidal graphite and il. All the ingredients, with the exception of the mica rid graphite, are liquefied by heating, and all the inredients are then thoroughly intermixed by agitation.

In preparing the lubricant, the following ingredients re intermixed in the following proportions by weight. lgredients: Parts by weight Grease (type used in water pumps) Calcium base 1 Soap grease (No. 1 consistency) 1 Beeswax Paraffin 4 Powdered mica 3 Graphite (colloidal) A Oil (common hoist) 2 intermixing of the above ingredients is effected by heatg the same with steam until all thereof except the mica 1d graphite are in the molten state. Frequent stirring i the ingredients is desirable during the heating operation I assure thorough intermixing thereof. The heating [Ollld be continued only sufficiently long for thorough termixing of the ingredients to take place, and to as- {TC that no lumps or agglomerates remain in the finished bricant.

The grease, of a type used on water pumps, is anhydrous, has a calcium soap content of approximately 7%, excess alkali not over 0.15 excess free acid not over 0.15%, and enough mineral oil to give it an ASTM No. 1 consistency (ASTM-American Society for Testing Materials). No. 1 consistency approximates that of a heavy salve.

The calcium base soap grease is anhydrous, has a calcium base soap content of 5% to 7%, excess free acid not over 0.15 excess alkali not over 0.15%, lead oxide 3%, and enough mineral oil to give an ASTM No. 1 consistency.

The proportions of the materials comprising the grease and soap above mentioned are by weight.

The beeswax and parafiin preferably have a melting point of 160-l65 F.

The oil, designated as Common Hoist, has an API gravity of 23 (API-American Petroleum Institute); Saybolt viscosity of 200 at F.; flash point of 360 F.; fire point of 450 F.; pour point of 20 F.; and a color of ASTM Union No. 2 (Pale Amber).

In the lubricant compounded as above described, the grease and calcium base soap assist in holding the mica and graphite in suspension and as carrier therefor. The beeswax and paraffin serve as lubricative binders. The oil acts as a thinner, and when varied, permits the hard ness of the invention to be controlled.

The mica in the present invention serves as a lubricant, even at the hottest temperatures to which the inside surface of a gun barrel will be subjected, and in addition serves to fill the pores of the metal defining the gun barrel. The colloidal graphite and mica in cooperation act as a lubricant when deposited on the interior surface of a gun barrel. Both the mica and graphite are preferably in a finely divided state to assure even distribution thereof through the grease, soap, beeswax, paraffin and oil during the time they are being heated and subjected to agitation.

In use, the lubricant is preferably carried as an integral part of the bullet or shotgun shell as shown in the drawing.

In FIGURE 1 a bullet missile A is shown that has a heel or base 1, lubrication groove or cannelure 2, crimp groove 3, and nose or point 4. FIGURE 2 illustrates a bullet missile A after it has been trimmed to correct caliber, with the groove 2 filled with the lubricant B. The lubricant B may be placed in the groove 2 by use of a conventional bullet lubricator and sizer. Another method is to place the bullet missile A upright in a shallow, flat-bottomed receptacle (not shown) which holds the melted lubricant B. The lubricant B must be of sufficient depth in the receptacle to enter groove 2 but not the crimp groove 3. After the lubricant is allowed to solidify in the receptacle, the bullet missile is removed therefrom, and the excess hardened lubricant in groove 2 trimmed therefrom. Bullet missile A is then seated in shell case 6 above the powder charge, with the upper portion of the case being crimped or swaged into the groove 3.

The lubricant is preferably used in shotgun shells by soaking a felt filler wad 8, as shown in FIGURE 4, in the material when it is heated and in the molten state. The length of time the wad 8 is allowed to soak in the liquid lubricant determines the completeness of the impregnation thereof. After wad 8 is impregnated with the lubricant it is placed in a paper shotgun shell case 13 that has a metallic base 9. The impregnated wad 8 is situated above powder charge wad l0 and felt washer 11, but below the shot charge 12. When the lubricant is disposed in the groove 2 or impregnates a wad 8 inside a shell casing 13 it is sealed from contact with the ambient atmosphere, and is accordingly prevented from gathering dust, dirt and other foreign material that would be harmful to the interior surface of a gun barrel.

The use of the invention has been previously described in detail and need not be repeated. From experience in using the invention it has been found to withstand both high and low temperatures without the ingredients tending to separate, or the lubricant losing oil. Also, the lubricant has the desirable property that it will not smudge the hands.

When used with bullets, the lubricant cleans the gun barrels through which such bullets are fired of lead particles and foreign materials left from previous firings, and also lubricates the bore surfaces of the barrels and imparts a mirror-like gloss thereto that lasts indefinitely. In addition, the lubricant remains intact with the bullet missile, as has been determined by the examination of recovered bullets.

Although the invention herein shown and described is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and that I do not mean to be limited to the details thereof, other than as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A lubricant for use in cleansing a small arms barrel when a bullet missile is fired therethrough and also imparts a mirror-like gloss to the interior surface of said barrel, said lubricant being capable of filling a circumferentially extending groove in said bullet missle, which lubricant is of sufficiently heavy consistency to permit a major portion of said lubricant to remain in said groove after said missile is fired through said small arms barrel, said lubricant comprising the following ingredients in parts by weight:

Parts Calcium base soap grease 2 Beeswax 3 Paraffin 4 Finely powdered mica 3 Colloidal graphite A Common hoist oil 2 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 681,091 Adamson Aug. 20, 1901 1,231,227 Williams June 26, 1917 2,047,897 Symes July 14, 1936 2,332,196 Bjorksten Oct. 19, 1943 2,346,124 Dew Apr. 4, 1944 2,356,367 Wright Aug. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,949 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1895 

